The recent Job and
Internship Expo held in the Campus Center
Ballrooom gave University at Albany students
a chance to put their best foot forward in
seeking internships and job opportunities
upon graduation.

Jamaal Bailey, president of the University at
Albany Chapter of the National Communication Association
Student Clubs, will graduate this May with his
bachelor of arts degree in rhetoric and communication.
He was one of more than 850 University at Albany
students to attend the third annual University
at Albany Job and Internship Expo on March 2.

With graduation just on the horizon, many UAlbany
seniors are beginning to prepare for their future
in the job market.

“I went to the Expo because I wanted to learn
how to talk to [recruiters] and see what they
want. I also wanted to see what kinds of jobs
are out there,” said David Judge, 21, a senior
from Yonkers, N.Y., graduating in December with
his bachelor of arts in political science.

The Career Development Center, Pi Sigma Epsilon,
the African-American & Latino Pre-Professional
Association, and the American Marketing Association
co-sponsored this event, granting students the
opportunity to present their interests, strengths,
and education to 69 internship and full-time employment
recruiters.

“This year we packed the Campus Center Ballroom
to capacity,” said Jennifer Lee, former president
of Pi Sigma Epsilon.

Professionalism filled the atmosphere. Students
and recruiters alike dressed in mostly black and
white. People shook hands and smiled graciously
while they passed out information about themselves
or their organizations in the form of pamphlets,
brochures, business cards, and resumes.

“You have to be prepared for the Job Expo. I
wanted to make a good impression. I bought resume
paper, made sure that my clothes had no wrinkles,
and that I was cleanly shaven. I studied the companies
that were going to be there in advance so that
I could show them that their interests matched
mine,” said Bailey, 21, from the Bronx, N.Y.

Recruiters came from a broad spectrum of organizations,
such as IBM, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Catholic
Charities Disabilities Services, Lord and Taylor
Department Stores, MetLife Financial Services,
Stiefel Laboratories, State Farm Insurance, Thompson
Delmar Learning, and the U.S. Air Force.

“We invited a diverse employer presence. Reservations
were taken first-come, first-serve,” said Marie
Rabideau, interim director of the Career Development
Center.

For many students, the first Job Expo attended
is not the last. The Expo provides a learning
experience and opportunities for interviews and
networking that students would not otherwise have
access to.

“I think [Job Expos] are helpful. Going to the
Job Expo made me better prepared for an interview.
When I went to the Job Expo last year, I was nervous
and I did not know how to talk to recruiters.
This year, I was more professional and I knew
what questions to ask,” said Hilda Chan, 21, a
senior from Long Island, N.Y., graduating this
May with her bachelor of arts in economics.

Of the roughly 2,000 undergraduate and 1,050
graduate students who will graduate from the University
at Albany this May, the majority will have degree
majors in psychology, business, English, rhetoric
and communication, and economics. Although job
competition will be abundant, students are not
expressing concern about their prospects in the
job market.

“I plan to take off two weeks after graduation
and then start looking for a job,” said Chan.

According to the National Association of College
and Employers (NACE), Winter, 2004 report, an
overall hiring increase of 12.7 percent is expected
for new college graduates. The careers that are
expected to be in highest demand include sales,
entry-level management, teaching, accounting,
financial analysis, design engineering, registered
nursing, and consulting.

With the job market expected to improve, some
of the co-sponsors of the Job and Internship Expo
offered advice about actions that students and
faculty could take to possibly increase students’
chances of obtaining jobs.

“Many students do not start their job search
until after graduation. There are jobs out there
for new graduates. However, students need to learn
that career planning is a process that takes time.
Many students focus on their grades and work a
part-time job on the side and do nothing else
but dedicate time to their social life. These
are the students who have a more difficult time
finding a job. The well-prepared and qualified
students (those who have done internships, participated
in clubs/activities, gained some leadership experience
as well as solid interpersonal skills, and have
networked effectively) will be the ones who find
jobs. Graduates who do not have adequate experience
have the option of doing post-graduate internships
to improve their marketability,” said Rabideau.

“Faculty need to get the word out more to their
students. The Expo does not exclude any major,
but a lot of professors and students, alike, think
that these types of events are only geared toward
business and business-related majors. They are
open to the whole University and I would like
to see everyone take advantage of it, if not for
a job, the networking possibilities are endless,”
said Lee.

The Career Development Center is available to
discuss educational and career concerns and goals
with matriculated undergraduate students. Students
can come to the Career Development Center during
drop-in hours for resume and cover letter critiques,
and CDC staff will work individually with students
in career counseling appointments.